Staff
Lizzie Alford
Education Administrative Assistant
contact: lizzie@fbcchattanooga.org
Lizzie is the assistant to Michael Sepulveda at First Baptist Church Chattanooga. She was born and raised in Orlando, Florida, along with a brother who is ten years older, whom she adores. She went to college near Nashville, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts, with an emphasis in Biblical studies.
She married her husband, Josh in the summer of 2020, and they have been living in the Red Bank area since then. She loves her kitten who gets into everything, and working with her hands, and so you will find her knitting, painting, or baking.
David Daley
Facilities Supervisor
contact: david@fbcchattanooga.org
David has spent most of his adult life taking care of facilities. His experience at McKee Foods and a large pharmaceutical company served him well as he keeps our aging building functioning.
He considers this job to be his favorite, one he has held since 2012, and enjoys being part of the FBC family by using the skills God has given him to provide for the ministries and people of this congregation. David is married and has two adult children.
Charles Holt
Custodian
Lila Knauth
Financial Associate
contact: lila@fbcchattanooga.org
Lila is a native Texan living in Chattanooga since 2015. She and her husband of 43 years moved here to closer to their twin grandsons.
In Lila’s spare time, she enjoys reading, crafting and spending time with her family. Lila has been in the financial industry all her life. She joined FBC to be the Financial Associate in 2021 and is thrilled for this opportunity to serve this community and being a part of the First Baptist Church family.
Frances Marandi
Music Administrative Assistant
contact: frances@fbcchattanooga.org
As a member of FBC Chattanooga, Frances spent some time volunteering in the church office and jumped at the chance to return to full-time employment with a job here. For the last 15+ years, she has held her dream job getting to help Jeff Parker however needed to keep the music and worship area of the office on schedule.
She loves the way everyone at FBC cares for each other, willing to help no matter the task. When not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband and extended family, singing, reading, and doing handwork.
Jeff Parker
Minister of Music and Worship
contact: jeff@fbcchattanooga.org
Jeff grew up in Marion, IL, with a twin sister and older brother. After beginning his college experience at the University of Illinois, he graduated from Belmont (College) University with a Bachelor of Music.
He also holds a Master of Church Music from the former Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He served churches in North Carolina for almost 20 years before coming to FBC Chattanooga in 2008.
Jeff‘s joys are the amazing women in his life: his wife, Jenny, and two adult daughters, Jordyn & Joci. For mental, spiritual and physical health, Jeff enjoys running through the beautiful settings in and around Chattanooga.
Thomas Quisenberry
Senior Pastor
contact: thomas@fbcchattanooga.org
Thomas has been pastor at First Baptist since 2010. He is a native of South Carolina, attended the University of Clemson, and is an avid Tiger fan. He earned a Master of Divinity from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond before earning a Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Seminary.
He is a father of four and is proud to be their greatest cheerleader and shuttle driver. Thomas and Maggie, also an ordained baptist minister, enjoy traveling with the kids across the states.
Michael Sepulveda
Minister of Children and Youth
contact: michael@fbcchattanooga.org
Michael grew up in Arlington, Texas. As an adult he made his way to Chattanooga through the great cities of Birmingham, AL and Richmond, VA. He has a daughter attending Samford University and a son at Signal Mountain High School.
Michael began his college “career” at Ouachita Baptist University while eventually graduating from The University of Alabama at Birmingham (GO BLAZERS!) with a B.A. in Sociology.
He received his Master of Divinity at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Michael has ministered to children and youth since 2000 and has served at First Baptist since August of 2011.
Patty Spells
Church Administrative Assistant
contact: patty@fbcchattanooga.org
Patty hails from Cleveland, Ohio where she was born to the union of a Pastor and his wife. Her upbringing was rooted in the Christian faith and lifestyle including the adventures of 7 siblings and kids from the church who often slept over on pallets in the big house where she was raised. Big family, big meals by one of the best cooks to come out of Mississippi (Mamma), big city and big schools. It was a big, happy upbringing.
Patty accepted Christ as a child and began at age 11 to travel during summers with her father who answered the call to evangelism after 25 years as a pastor. Having studied sociology at Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, her education and life-long commitment to ministry resulted in work both in the local church and multiple venues beyond.
Patty has resided in Chattanooga since 1988 and enjoyed a long career in the legal field and healthcare management while she raised a wonderful daughter, Charlotte. As a retiree she is enjoying working full time ministry including her service in the front office of First Baptist Church
